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2 accused of theft on Watergate Road

Two people have been accused of looting after the April 10 tornado in Van Buren County.

On April 17, 2013, the Van Buren County sheriff’s office responded to Watergate Road on a report of person(s) believed to be stealing items from the tornado-affected area. Deputies were close to the area and a fast response time yielded multiple suspects.

Witnesses described a maroon truck being driven by a suspect. A vehicle matching this description was seen traveling north on Highway 65 and ultimately stopping at Stiles Recycling in Leslie.

The Searcy County sheriff’s office was dispatched to the scene to hold the suspects for Van Buren County deputies.

Billy E. Maxwell, 40, of Houston, Ark., and Latisha D. Box, 28, of Mount Vernon, Ark., were arrested on a charge of felony theft during a time of emergency due to the fact that the items were stolen from a tornado-damaged area, according to the sheriff’s office.

Both Maxwell and Box are currently at the Van Buren County Detention Center on $10,000 bonds.